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Francis and Mary (Seiler) Jirak of Tampa will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary Saturday. Everyone is invited to festivities in their honor, including a polka dance starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Tampa Senior Center. The couple requests no gifts.

They married on Oct. 28, 1972, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Colwich. They moved to rural Tampa after their wedding. After living in town for a few years, they moved to their current residence outside of town so Francis could fulfill his dream of owning his own farm.

Francis retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after 35 years and now focuses on raising crops and livestock. Mary keeps busy as a farm wife and is the head of the PSR program at Holy Family Parish in Tampa. During summer and fall they also sell produce on the corner of Main and Second streets in Marion.

The couple has five children: James Jirak of Kensington, Albert Jirak of Colwich, and John Jirak, Kristine Jirak, and Maria Gear of Wichita. They also have 15 grandchildren.